Golden Grove (City/Hills) and Renmark Tintra Lawn (Rural) have been announced as South Australia’s Most Outstanding Tennis Clubs in 2023, while dedicated volunteers Kimberly Absalom (Golden Grove Tennis Club) and Heidi Heemskerk (Mount Gambier Tennis Club) were honoured with Volunteer Achievement Awards.
The awards, among others were presented in front of more than 430 attendees at the Tennis SA Gala Dinner on Centre Court at The Drive on Saturday night.
The one-off, special event signified the official opening of The Drive and celebrated the achievements of the South Australian tennis community over the past 12 months.
A highlight of the evening was Hot Shots to Henry, a thank you message from the South Australian tennis playing community featuring five-year-old Willow Smitheram and 99-year-old Henry Young.
“We were thrilled to welcome the South Australian tennis community to The Drive for our very first Tennis SA Gala Dinner on Saturday night,” Tennis SA CEO Debbie Sterrey said.
“The Gala Dinner was a spectacular celebration of the achievements of our players, coaches, clubs, communities, volunteers and officials, and it truly was the perfect way to officially open the redeveloped venue.
“Congratulations to all of the award winners and finalists, we are very proud of you.”
Golden Grove Tennis Club won the Most Outstanding Tennis Club – City/Hills award for the second consecutive year after membership and participation numbers have continued to grow. New social offerings have created many opportunities for the club and the wider community, building a strong club culture.
Golden Grove Tennis Club President Craig Mousley was excited to accept the award on behalf of the club and congratulate club stalwart Kimberly Absalom.
“We were very, very shocked I must admit. We were up against two strong clubs in Tea Tree Gully and Woodville Orion, they’ve both had a tremendous 12 months,” Mousley said.
“This award is a testament to the volunteers, members and families who put in a lot of effort day-to-day.
“For Kimberly to win the Volunteer Achievement Award as well, this is a due reward for everything she has done for our club over a very long time. To have both of these awards coming back to Golden Grove is pretty special.”
For Renmark Tintra Lawn Tennis Club, the Most Outstanding Tennis Club – Rural award recognises the wide variety of programs on offer, catering for all players from social to competitive levels, with inclusivity a key focus for the club.
Tea Tree Gully and Woodville Orion Tennis Clubs were finalists for the City/Hills accolade, whilst Berri and Strathalbyn Tennis Clubs were in the running to win the rural category.
Professional athletes Thanasi Kokkinakis and Petra Hule were awarded South Australia’s most prestigious player awards, the Burr and Boyce Medals.
Elim Yan took home the Gwen Thiele Memorial Trophy for most outstanding 18-and-under female, while Alexander Despoja and Henry Lamchinniah were joint winners of the Don Turnbull Memorial Trophy for most outstanding 18-and-under male.
The City of Playford won the award for Most Outstanding Council or Government Department, while Andriana Petrakis was announced as the Most Outstanding Player with a Disability following an outstanding year including winning the doubles title at the Australian Open Players with an Intellectual Impairment (PWII) tournament.
In the Coaching Excellence categories, Domenic Marafiote won the development award, Helen Rice (Belair, SA) took home the club award and Sam Clayson claimed the rural award. Torrens Valley Christian School was named the Most Outstanding School for the second year in a row.
The full list of award winners were as follows:
South Australian Legends Club
The late Dr Helen Amos (accepted by Helen’s sister, Raelene Wildy)
Burr Medal (Best and fairest male tennis player)
Thanasi Kokkinakis
Boyce Medal (Best and fairest female tennis player)
Petra Hule
Don Turnbull Memorial Trophy (Best male 18-and-under tennis player)
Alexander Despoja
Henry Lamchinniah
Gwen Thiele Memorial Trophy (Best female 18-and-under tennis player)
Elim Yan
State League Premiers
Men
Peake Gardens Riverside Tennis Club
Women
Glenlea Tennis Club
State League Players of the Year
Men
Ashwin Vijayaragavan (Tea Tree Gully Tennis Club)
Women
Elim Yan (Seacliff Tennis Club)
State League Fair Play Awards
Men
Andrew Tavella (Trinity Gardens Tennis Club)
Women
Ainsley Fairhead (Peake Gardens Riverside Tennis Club)
Metro League Premiers
Men
Division 1: Warradale Park Tennis Club
Division 2: Reade Park Lawn Tennis Club
Division 3: West Lakes Tennis Club
Division 4: Stirling Tennis Club
Women
Division 1: Memorial Drive Tennis Club
Division 2: Glenlea Tennis Club
Metro League Strike Rate Awards
Men
Division 1: Nick Watts (Warradale Park Tennis Club)
Division 2: Bradley Pratt (Seaside Tennis Club)
Division 3: Sam Von Einem (Henley South Tennis Club)
Division 4: Blake Sanders (Athelstone Tennis Club)
Women
Division 1: Melissa Beadman (Memorial Drive Tennis Club)
Division 2: Eliza Gauvin (Glenlea Tennis Club)
Most Outstanding Club-based Competition
McLaren Vale Tennis Club
Most Outstanding Tournament
Seacliff Tennis Club
Most Outstanding Council or Government Department
City of Playford
Most Outstanding Inclusion Program
South Australian Blind and Low Vision Tennis Program
Most Outstanding School
Torrens Valley Christian School
Excellence in Officiating
Casey Jackson
Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability
Andriana Petrakis
Most Outstanding 30+ Tennis Senior
Martin Richards
Coaching Excellence – Rural
Sam Clayson
Coaching Excellence – Club
Helen Rice
Coaching Excellence – Development
Domenic Marafiote
Volunteer Achievement Award – Rural
Heidi Heemskerk
Volunteer Achievement Award – City/Hills
Kimberly Absalom
Most Outstanding Tennis Club – Rural
Renmark Tintra Lawn Tennis Club
Most Outstanding Tennis Club – City/Hills
Golden Grove Tennis Club
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